If its committing a crime of their own volition/decision/free will, should be treated like its real live weapon. Sentence should reflect it. Why docthey deserve any break, no one knows it and since criminals often get the murder charges if one of their fellow crooks is shot and dies during the crime, that fake gun put peoples lives at risk.
I couldn’t agree more. It’s of a piece with ‘hate’ crimes.
The punishment should fit the crime, not your intentions going into it.